Windows 2003 Adding New Disks

[Matthew White]

Hi,

I have a client with a Dell server running W2K3 SBE. He has no hardware
RAID, the RAID is setup through Windows Disk Management. He is out of space
and needs to add new disks. When I have this issue with a server that has a
RAID controller, I can easily add new disks, let the mirror rebuild, and then
extend the partition. However, here I don't have this option. Is there a
recommended way to add 2 new disks to the current Windows Mirrored set
without having to rebuild the box?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Matthew White

 

[Herb Martin]

"Matthew White" <MatthewWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5BCB9AEE-2860-49AE-B3BE-15E435448E2F@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have a client with a Dell server running W2K3 SBE. He has no hardware
> RAID, the RAID is setup through Windows Disk Management. He is out of
> space
> and needs to add new disks. When I have this issue with a server that has
> a
> RAID controller, I can easily add new disks, let the mirror rebuild, and
> then
> extend the partition. However, here I don't have this option. Is there a
> recommended way to add 2 new disks to the current Windows Mirrored set
> without having to rebuild the box?

Software mirroring cannot be combined with any other RAID or advanced
volume type in software.

Mirroring doesn't allow for extending the current partition (short of
backup/rebuild/restore.)

With an ordinary volume (on a Dynamic Disk) you can extend into
a Volume set.

You can add the new disks for this, and you might gain some advantage
by moving large (non-System) directory trees to the new disk and using
"LinkD.exe" (Free from Microsoft Resource Kit tools online) to link
the current directory location to the new one.

Example:

Copy (e.g., Xcopy /s) all of C:\Program files to F:\Programs Files (or
even
F:\Programs)

Remove old copy of program files

Linkd the current location to the new one:

linkd "C:\Program files" to "F:\Programs Files"

This puts the contents of Program Files on new disk space without disturbing
existing programs.

You can also put the Cache file (or most of it ) there, Temp directories,
and
perhaps Profiles also.

You cannot do this type of thing for %SystemRoot% or most system directories
within it, especially not System32.


--
Herb Martin, MCSE, MVP
http://www.LearnQuick.Com
(phone on web site)

 

[Matthew White]

"Herb Martin" wrote:

>
> "Matthew White" <MatthewWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5BCB9AEE-2860-49AE-B3BE-15E435448E2F@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a client with a Dell server running W2K3 SBE. He has no hardware
> > RAID, the RAID is setup through Windows Disk Management. He is out of
> > space
> > and needs to add new disks. When I have this issue with a server that has
> > a
> > RAID controller, I can easily add new disks, let the mirror rebuild, and
> > then
> > extend the partition. However, here I don't have this option. Is there a
> > recommended way to add 2 new disks to the current Windows Mirrored set
> > without having to rebuild the box?
>
> Software mirroring cannot be combined with any other RAID or advanced
> volume type in software.
>
> Mirroring doesn't allow for extending the current partition (short of
> backup/rebuild/restore.)
>
> With an ordinary volume (on a Dynamic Disk) you can extend into
> a Volume set.
>
> You can add the new disks for this, and you might gain some advantage
> by moving large (non-System) directory trees to the new disk and using
> "LinkD.exe" (Free from Microsoft Resource Kit tools online) to link
> the current directory location to the new one.
>
> Example:
>
> Copy (e.g., Xcopy /s) all of C:\Program files to F:\Programs Files (or
> even
> F:\Programs)
>
> Remove old copy of program files
>
> Linkd the current location to the new one:
>
> linkd "C:\Program files" to "F:\Programs Files"
>
> This puts the contents of Program Files on new disk space without disturbing
> existing programs.
>
> You can also put the Cache file (or most of it ) there, Temp directories,
> and
> perhaps Profiles also.
>
> You cannot do this type of thing for %SystemRoot% or most system directories
> within it, especially not System32.
>
>
> --
> Herb Martin, MCSE, MVP
> http://www.LearnQuick.Com
> (phone on web site)
>
>
> Sorry Herb, this is slightly confusing to me. I don't have the option of adding new disks before I replace the old disks. I only have 2 drive bays. Is there any way to break the mirror, replace one disk, recreate the mirror, break the mirror again, replace the other disk, then recreate the mirror again. Then I would have new unallocated space.

 

[Herb Martin]

"Matthew White" <MatthewWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8BB7CED8-F94D-46CB-AFA0-659BA02AE5ED@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Herb Martin" wrote:
>
>>
>> "Matthew White" <MatthewWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5BCB9AEE-2860-49AE-B3BE-15E435448E2F@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I have a client with a Dell server running W2K3 SBE. He has no
>> > hardware
>> > RAID, the RAID is setup through Windows Disk Management. He is out of
>> > space
>> > and needs to add new disks. When I have this issue with a server that
>> > has
>> > a
>> > RAID controller, I can easily add new disks, let the mirror rebuild,
>> > and
>> > then
>> > extend the partition. However, here I don't have this option. Is
>> > there a
>> > recommended way to add 2 new disks to the current Windows Mirrored set
>> > without having to rebuild the box?
>>
>> Software mirroring cannot be combined with any other RAID or advanced
>> volume type in software.
>>
>> Mirroring doesn't allow for extending the current partition (short of
>> backup/rebuild/restore.)
>>
>> With an ordinary volume (on a Dynamic Disk) you can extend into
>> a Volume set.
>>
>> You can add the new disks for this, and you might gain some advantage
>> by moving large (non-System) directory trees to the new disk and using
>> "LinkD.exe" (Free from Microsoft Resource Kit tools online) to link
>> the current directory location to the new one.
>>
>> Example:
>>
>> Copy (e.g., Xcopy /s) all of C:\Program files to F:\Programs Files
>> (or
>> even
>> F:\Programs)
>>
>> Remove old copy of program files
>>
>> Linkd the current location to the new one:
>>
>> linkd "C:\Program files" to "F:\Programs Files"
>>
>> This puts the contents of Program Files on new disk space without
>> disturbing
>> existing programs.
>>
>> You can also put the Cache file (or most of it ) there, Temp directories,
>> and
>> perhaps Profiles also.
>>
>> You cannot do this type of thing for %SystemRoot% or most system
>> directories
>> within it, especially not System32.


>Sorry Herb, this is slightly confusing to me. I don't have the option of
>adding new disks before I replace the old disks. I only have 2 >drive
>bays. Is there any way to break the mirror, replace one disk, recreate the
>mirror, break the mirror again, replace the other disk, >then recreate the
>mirror again. Then I would have new unallocated space.

Sure, you can break the Mirror and add another disk, but you will
likely have some trouble replacing the main disk with the OS -- this
is doable but it is tricky.

Perhaps a back and restore to the new disks is your best bet.

 

[Matthew White]

This server has a lot of custom webserver configuration that I would prefer
to avoid having to do. Perhaps I will attempt the disk swap/mirroring, and
fall back on the backup, rebuild, restore plan. Do you have a link to a KB
for the best way to perform the full backup and restore?

Thanks again Herb

"Herb Martin" wrote:

>
> "Matthew White" <MatthewWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8BB7CED8-F94D-46CB-AFA0-659BA02AE5ED@microsoft.com...
> >
> >
> > "Herb Martin" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> "Matthew White" <MatthewWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:5BCB9AEE-2860-49AE-B3BE-15E435448E2F@microsoft.com...
> >> > Hi,
> >> >
> >> > I have a client with a Dell server running W2K3 SBE. He has no
> >> > hardware
> >> > RAID, the RAID is setup through Windows Disk Management. He is out of
> >> > space
> >> > and needs to add new disks. When I have this issue with a server that
> >> > has
> >> > a
> >> > RAID controller, I can easily add new disks, let the mirror rebuild,
> >> > and
> >> > then
> >> > extend the partition. However, here I don't have this option. Is
> >> > there a
> >> > recommended way to add 2 new disks to the current Windows Mirrored set
> >> > without having to rebuild the box?
> >>
> >> Software mirroring cannot be combined with any other RAID or advanced
> >> volume type in software.
> >>
> >> Mirroring doesn't allow for extending the current partition (short of
> >> backup/rebuild/restore.)
> >>
> >> With an ordinary volume (on a Dynamic Disk) you can extend into
> >> a Volume set.
> >>
> >> You can add the new disks for this, and you might gain some advantage
> >> by moving large (non-System) directory trees to the new disk and using
> >> "LinkD.exe" (Free from Microsoft Resource Kit tools online) to link
> >> the current directory location to the new one.
> >>
> >> Example:
> >>
> >> Copy (e.g., Xcopy /s) all of C:\Program files to F:\Programs Files
> >> (or
> >> even
> >> F:\Programs)
> >>
> >> Remove old copy of program files
> >>
> >> Linkd the current location to the new one:
> >>
> >> linkd "C:\Program files" to "F:\Programs Files"
> >>
> >> This puts the contents of Program Files on new disk space without
> >> disturbing
> >> existing programs.
> >>
> >> You can also put the Cache file (or most of it ) there, Temp directories,
> >> and
> >> perhaps Profiles also.
> >>
> >> You cannot do this type of thing for %SystemRoot% or most system
> >> directories
> >> within it, especially not System32.
>
>
> >Sorry Herb, this is slightly confusing to me. I don't have the option of
> >adding new disks before I replace the old disks. I only have 2 >drive
> >bays. Is there any way to break the mirror, replace one disk, recreate the
> >mirror, break the mirror again, replace the other disk, >then recreate the
> >mirror again. Then I would have new unallocated space.
>
> Sure, you can break the Mirror and add another disk, but you will
> likely have some trouble replacing the main disk with the OS -- this
> is doable but it is tricky.
>
> Perhaps a back and restore to the new disks is your best bet.
>
>
>
>

 

[Herb Martin]

"Matthew White" <MatthewWhite@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F30D48C9-6846-44C5-B9B7-74E216CC26F2@microsoft.com...
> This server has a lot of custom webserver configuration that I would
> prefer
> to avoid having to do. Perhaps I will attempt the disk swap/mirroring,
> and
> fall back on the backup, rebuild, restore plan. Do you have a link to a
> KB
> for the best way to perform the full backup and restore?

The built in help pretty much covers it.

You need a System State Backup or ASR (2003/XP+ only) to get a system
working again easily -- in additional to all the normal backup stuff.

Using third party backup tools can be easier if you have them.